Political Film Review #439

FINAL BALLOTTING BEGINS ON NOMINEES FOR BEST POLITICAL FILMS OF 2013

During January, members of the Political Film Society narrowed the list of nominated films to no more than five in each category. As a result, final ballots are available during February. Within each category, if you feel that the film deserves an award, mark your ballot YES. If you believe that the film is not worthy of considertion mark, mark your ballot NO. If you did not see a film, the best way to vote is by putting an X for NO OPINION. Polls close at midnight February 28. If the emailed ballot is difficult to read, kindly go to the website.

                For films promoting DEMOCRACY, vote from the following nominees, selecting only one as YES:

FILM TITLE	YES	NO	NO OPINION	CONTENT
The Butler	(    )	(    )	(    )	How a timid Black joined his son in protests.
Capital	(    )	(    )	(    )	The arrogance of plutocratic control of government.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom	(    )	(    )	(    )	How public pressure brought about the release of Mandela, who then insisted upon full democracy.

                For EXPOSÉ films, bringing to prominence lesser known facts that raise political consciousness, vote from the

                following. Choose only one as YES:

FILM TITLE	YES	NO	NO OPINION	CONTENT
Aftermath	(    )	(    )	(    )	Polish complicity with Nazi extermination of Jews.
Dallas Buyers Club	(    )	(    )	(    )	How an AIDS-affected straight man helped gays and himself with meds.
A Dark Truth	(    )	(    )	(    )	Why Chevron paid $18 billion for polluting the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Emperor	(    )	(    )	(    )	How McArthur got the Japan’s Emperor to legitimate USA’s occupation.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist	(    )	(    )	(    )	How the USA is inflaming Muslims to become terrorists.

                For films that promote human rights, vote for the best one from the following nominees:

FILM TITLE	YES	NO	NO OPINION	CONTENT
12 Years a Slave	(    )	(    )	(    )	What dehumanizing slavery in the USA was like.
42	(    )	(    )	(    )	Biopic of Jackie Robinson: What he endured while playing in the major league.
The Butler	(    )	(    )	(    )	How a butler saw presidential decisions for or against the civil rights of Blacks.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom	(    )	(    )	(    )	The evils of apartheid, including massacres and harsh laws.

                In a year when films focused on war heroes, only one film was nominated for promoting Peace. To win an award, there      fore, there should be an up-or-down vote:

FILM TITLE	YES	NO	NO OPINION	CONTENT
Zaytoun	(    )	(    )	(    )	A young Palestinian boy releases from PLO detention an Israeli pilot, who helps him to visit his abandoned ancestral home, now under Israeli control.

The Political Film Society Board of Directors will meet on Saturday, March 1, at 9 a.m. (8481 Allenwood Road, LA 90046) to count ballots. Final ballots, to be posted that night, will have a deadline of February 28. Winners will be announced March 1 after a Board of Directors meeting, same place at 9 a.m.